Ag Dept. now accepting hemp licenses

By Oregon Department of Agriculture

The Oregon Department of Agriculture is now accepting applications for licenses to grow and handle industrial hemp for the 2016 growing season. Starting this year, licenses and permits are issued on an annual basis rather than the previous 3-year license and permit. ODA has adopted a temporary administrative rule to modify the license and permit following changes to Oregon’s industrial hemp law by the 2015 legislature.

In addition to a license for growing or handling industrial hemp, a permit is needed for those wishing to produce or handle agricultural hemp seed.

Growers and handlers who received a license or permit last year are not affected by the change and will be able to keep their existing three-year license or permit through 2017. The cost of the triennial license or permit was $1,500. The cost of the new annual license or permit is $500. Collected fees are used to administer ODA’s Industrial Hemp Program, which includes inspection, sampling, and testing on a fee-for-service basis.

ODA issued 11 licenses to growers of industrial hemp in 2015, the first year of its Industrial Hemp Program. ODA expects to see an increase in the number of licenses issued this year.

More information on ODA’s Industrial Hemp Program, including a downloadable application form for permits and licenses, can be found on the program’s web page or by calling (503) 986-4620.


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